The Portland daily press., 1887-03-21
One Mile Of Northern Pacific Track
Swept Away.
No Means of Communication with
Bismarck.
Telegraph Wires Down and the Poles
Frustrated.
People Obliged to Take Refuge in
Trees.
Fears that Many Fami lies May
Have Perished.
Narrow Escape of People Pursued
by the Rushing Waters.

Press special from Bismarck gives the fol-
lowing particulars of the flood: The most
serious damage was that to the high trestle
of the Northern Pacific at the western end
of the bridge. The ice knocked out several
punches of the underpinning, and it will be
several days before it can be repaired, even
If the water should soon recede. 1t will be
impossible to resume traffic without transfer,
as at least mile Of track between the bridge
and Mandan is swept away. All the tele-
graph wires between the bridge and Mandan
are down, and the poles swept away. There
are no means of communication between
Bismarck and Mandan. The Pacific express
arriving here at noon returned to st. Paul
on regular schedule time of the Atlantic ex-
press from the West. An attempt has
been made all day to break the gorge at Sib-
ley Island by dynamite, but thus far without
aVail, although over 800 pounds have been
used. Several houses on the lowlands have
peen swept away, and a rescuing party is out
Win q Doat tor two men and two women who
are known TO be surrounded. Word was
Drought OF their perilOus condition by the
husband OF one of the women, who had to
SWIM long distance and wade in water up
10 his breast over two miles, The weather
Is cold, and it is freeing little. The wealth
VI 40 az a eldIotill, anu no ice running. w ora
comes from Painted Woods that the river has
lallen eight feet there, which indicates that
Inere IS gorge above that place which the
20 loot rise from Buford win probably start
tonight, and 1t is not unlikely that Sunday
morning will see the river several feet higher
at this point than now. With a glass 1T is
observed that the streets in Mandan, and the
hrst story OF many buildings, are completely
submerged
p, A later despatch from Bismarck SAYS:
Inc gorge at Sibley island is still intact The
scene here today Is a dreary one The river
IS still over six miles in width. Two rescu-
ing parties were sent out this morning, and
nave found several families on the roofs of
thelr houses. Field glasses are being used
WIN good results, as numerous settlers have
peen discovered, some of them perched on
the trees, and others on floating timbers. To-
Gay SHOW storm prevails. The city of Man
dan IS completely inundated. The worst is
coming. The great river at Fort Buford is
now over halfway here, and will reach this
point some time tonight. This will make
the highest water ever known in these parts.
ana, unless the gorge breaks at Sibley island
tne city OF Mandan will be in danger of an
limitation. The high trestle of the Northern
racine railroad is wrecked. Yesterdays
passenger train, with it load of people bound
for the Pacific coast lay on the side track
mere all night and will not be able to leave
Tor several days. Apple creek which is u.s.
uaily about 10 feet wide, is now mile and a
nall Wl1e The snow storm has been trans
formed lnta binding blizzrrd and it is
feared the rescuing parties will be lost. They
are out in small yawls
BISMARCK, Oak, March 20-The Missou-
I! river Is still on the rampage, the Buford
rise reaching this point today, and the water
Is moving over the prairie at greater depth
and more terrific speed than eyer T'he
stream has risen foot here today which is
equal TO rise of over 20 feet in the upper
river as the water is spread out over a
stretch OF country six miles wide. The fear
lui blizzard OF yesterday abated last evening
ana leit over SIX inches of snow throughout
the Northwest. This will add TO the flood.
as the sun has come out Warm TODAY Tho
tributaries Of the Missouri are already grow
ing from the melting snow. Rescuing par
y Iles made wonderful journey into the low
lands yesterday and saved the lives of six
men and one woman who were perched upon
the tops of houses and in trees.
telegram from Fort Lincoln yesterday
announced that the people could be seen
from that point standingon haystacks and
they would perish in the flood. 1t is be-
lleyed the people rescued, are the ones re-
lerred to In the Lincoln dispatch, although
many claim the country directly opposite
Cne tort is settled, and numerous inhabitants
Oh the Hooded district are still in danger if
not swept away. A report also comes from
the north to the effect that at Painted Woods
the settlers have been in trees and on hay
STACKS I0r TWO days and relief parties have
been sent to that point The report that
superintendent Graham of the Northern
Pacific railroad had been drowned has been
denied.
The gorge at Sibley Island remains firm
and all efforts to move it are vain. If the
present state OF affairs should remain week
the Missouri would have permanent chan
mel cut across the country at least two miles
east of its old course. The ice is flow
ing freely today and is being lodged in blocks
Of from rod to a quarter of mile in length
on farms and meadow lands of the settlers.
The Northern Pacific trestle has not been re-
paired and 1t is impossible for the company
TO work upon the structure on account of
1oatlng ice. So rapidly did the flood rise at
Palnted Woods that two families, including
hye children, began to pack their household
goods preparatory to moving back from the
stream. Their houses were located on the
lowlands, and before they got ready to leave
the water was within six feet of their houses.
They then started, but were compelled to
go through lowlands quarter Of mile be-
fore they could reach the Butte, their house
being on the highest spot in the locality. No
sooner cid the water reach that height than
It swept Down into the lowland, and for over
a quarter OF a imile the horror-stricken peo-
people were pursued by the rushing waters.
before they reached the high land they were
oyertaken, and for the last four rods were
compelled to wade in three feet of water.
Another train load of passengers arrived
from the east today, and will be compelled
70 remain here until it is possible to cross
The Missouri. AS the ice is flowing freely il
IS believed the river will be free of ice to-
morrow, and the Northern Pacific will estab-
llSh transfer line of boats